Hair trimming device



Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,171,886 I HAIR TRIMMING DEVICE Harrison Lewis, San Francisco, Calif. Application January 21, 1939, Serial No. 252,161

3 Claims.

The invention, in general, relates to means for trimming the hair to desired lengths. More particularly, the present invention constitutes an improvement upon the invention disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No.

161,777, filed August 31, 1937, and entitled Hair trimmer.

A primary object of the present improvement is to provide a hair trimming device to which conventional safety razors of either the convex or slanting base type may be readily attached and which is characterized by the inclusion therein of means for lifting the hair into an advantageous position for the trimming operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned nature which is additionally characterized by the provision of means for conveying hair that has been cut away from the cutting edge thus avoiding impairment of the cutting action, or clogging of the blade.

A still further object of the present improvement is to provide a hair trimmer of the aforementioned character which affords a smooth, even trim to the hair whether a long or a short trim is desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the indicated nature which includes means for positioning a cutting edge on a bias with relation to the scalp so that the most effective trim is had. a

A still further object of the present improvement is to provide a hair trimming device which incorporates means for enabling ready and quick conversion of the device for attaching and firmly holding in anyselected one of a plurality of operative positions either a convex base or a slanting base type of safety razor.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which incorporates means for effectively shielding the otherwise exposed and unused edge of a double-edged blade of the conventional safety razor.

A still further object of the present improvement is to provide a compact, simple and relatively inexpensive hair trimming device of the indicated nature.

Other objects, uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It is, of course, to be understood that I am not to be limited to the precise embodiment shown and described but the invention embraces all hair trimming devices operable in substantially the same manner and embodying the invention hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present improvement, the showing being on an enlarged scale in order to show clearly the essential features of the device.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the attachment of a conventional safety razor of the convex base type to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, but on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my present improvement to which has been attached a standard type of safety razor having a convex base.

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the reversible plate of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, this view showing the obverse of the plate.

Figure 6 is another enlarged View similar to Figure 5, but showing the reverse of the plate.

Figure 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a preferred embodiment of the present improvement to which a conventional safety razor having a slanting base has been attached.

In its preferred form, the hair trimming device of my present improvement preferably comprises a body to which conventional safety razors of either the convex base type or the flat, slanting base type may be attached, said body having a surface consisting of a concave portion and a flat, slanting portion, in juxtapositioma comb structure extending from said surface, means on said comb structure for lifting the hair and holding the same in the most advantageous position for the trimming operation and for conveying hair that has been cut away from the safety razor blade to prevent clogging thereof, together withmeans for shielding the otherwise exposed, unused edge of a double-edged blade, and means for adjustabl'y attaching to said body either a convex base type or a flat, slanting base type of conventional safety razor in any one of a plurality of operative positions.

It is, of course, general knowledge that the common types of safety razors .in present use are constructed either with a base having a convex outer surface or with a base having a flat, slanting outer surface. The preferred embodiment of my present improvement is especially suitable for use in conjunction with such types of safety razors, and the annexed drawing and following formed so as to provide thereon a substantially flat bottom surface I2 and an upper surface consisting of a concave portion I3 and a flat, slanting portion I4, in juxtaposition, as clearly depicted in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 7 of the drawing.

The body II of my improvement in hair 15 trimming devices preferably is also formed with a comb structure I5 extending from the concave portion I3 of the body, such comb structure preferably being so shaped as to define a plurality of spaced teeth It which are tapered so as to afford relatively pointed tips II thereon. Each tooth I6 of the comb structure preferably is formed with vertically disposed sides I8 that are relatively low adjacent the tips H but that are relatively high adjacent the back I9 of the comb. Moreover, the 25 back of the comb structure I5 is preferably so constructed that arcuate connecting strips 2| are afforded between adjacent teeth It. The side walls I8 of the teeth of the comb, together with the arcuate connecting strips 24 therebetween, 30 function to lift and to hold the hair in the most advantageous position for the trimming operation, as well as to convey hair that has been cut away from the blade of the attached razor to prevent clogging thereof, thus avoiding impairment 3 of thetrimming operation. The entire comb structure I5, it will be observed, is so designed as to afford the maximum protection to the user from any possibility of iniiny.

It is to be especially noted that, in forming the 40 comb structure I5 as an extension of the concave portion I3 of the upper surface of body II, the

concave portion of such surface is extended slightly farther on one side of body II than on the other so that if a line were to be drawn as through the juncture 22 of the concave portion i3 of the upper surface'of the body' and the back I9 of the comb structure such line would be on a bias with respect to a line drawn along the ends .of tips ll of the teeth I6. This construction af- 5 fords positioning of the cutting edge of the razor blade on a bias with relationship to the scalp, 'see Figure 3 of the drawing, and a more effective trim or cutting action is thus had.--

As particularly illustrated in Figures and 6 of '55 .the drawing, the combination of my present improvement includes a reversible plate 23 which is of a convertible nature and which is formed with a relatively long, narrow slot-24 therein for receiving a projection 26 carried on the inner sur- 60 face of the'convex base 21 of the conventional safety razor with that type of, base, the projection functioning to hold a blade 28 on the base in operative position; the slot 24 in the reversible plate 23 conveniently being slightly enlarged and or,- rounded at the center thereof allowing forfltlie ad 'justment of the plate on the base 21 as well as flowing for the passage of a post or threaded stem 29 which projects from the base for removably receiving the customary handle 3I of the safety razor. In additionto the narrow slot 24,

I also form in the plate 23 two relatively small slots 32 at opposite sides of the plate for passing the usual small studs 33 on the inner surface of the convex base 21 of the standard safety razor of that type. Moreover, I also form in the reversible plate 23 two relatively large slots 34 ad'- jacent opposite sides of the plate for freely passing movably mounted threaded standards provided on the body I I for the purposes hereinafter set forth. The showing in Figure 5 of the draw- 5 ing has been designated the obverse of the reversible plate 23 for purposes of description only, while the showing in Figure 6 has been designated the reverse of plate 23.

With particular reference to Figure 6 of the drawing, itwill be observed that I- provide a relatively thick head 36 on one lateral side 31 of the reversible plate 23 and recess, or cut away the same, at the center thereof as indicated by reference numeral 38, which fulfills a purpose hereinafter mentioned. I also provide a relatively thin bead 33 on the other lateral side H of the reversible plate 23 but turn such head 39 in the opposite direction from the direction in which the thick bead-36 is turned. See, in this connection, Figures 2, 4 and 7 of the drawing which clearly depict beads 36 and 33. It will be especially noted by reference to Figures 2 and 4 a of the drawing that the otherwise exposed and unused edge 42 of a double-edged blade 28 of the conventional safety razor of the convex base type fits under or is received by the bead 36 of reversible plate 23 whensuch type of razor has been attached to body II. Bead 36 thus serves to shield from the user. of my hair trimming device such otherwise exposed edge 42 of blade 28 and any possibility of injury to the user isavoided. The other bead 39 of reversible plate 23 functions in the nature of a wedge in firmly engaging the normal guard 43 of a conventional 5 razor of the flat, slanting base type, as clearly depicted in Figure 7 of the drawing. It will be noted, in this connection, that the plate 23 is in reverse position when the flat, slanting base type of safety razor is attached to body II and, correspondingly, to convert the device for attaching a convex base type of safety razor thereto, the plate 23 is reversed and disposed on the device as depicted in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing.

In accordance with my present improvement, 5 I have provided means on the body II for adjustably attaching and firmly holding upon the body either a convex base type or a flat, slanting base. type of conventional safety razor, the adjustability of attachment being such that such types of razor can be attached and firmly held in any selected one of a variety of operative positions for more advantageously trimming of the hair and to suit particular users requirements. The means that I preferably employ to effect the foregoing result comprise a pair of movably mounted screw-threaded standards 44, one on each side of body I I, together with thumb-screws 46 for such standards for tightening the reversible plate in the selected position, which firmly 00 holds the attached safety razor in the desired position. It is to be especially observed that with the parts in assembled relationship and with the attached safety razor in the desired position the lower surface of each thumb-screw 46 at all 5 times bears evenly and flatly upon the upper surface of the reversible plate 23 regardless of the relative positions of the standards 44, and the parts are firmly held in operative position without any likelihood of dislodgement or tipping from their operative positionsn The standards 44' are movably mounted with respect to the body II in order that the safety razor may be shifted from position to position until the proper operative position is attained. A convenient means for 5 effecting the mounting of standards 44 consists of a pair of short screws 41 which are screwed into threaded sockets 48 formed in the side walls of body ll. Each standard 44 carries a ring or collar 49 for slidably mounting the standard upon the screws 41 prior to fitting the screws into the sockets 48. In mounting the standards 44, I preferably turn the screws 41 into their respective sockets 48 so that the inner ends of the screws abut the bases of the sockets. The particular mounting of the standards 44 just described afiords a pivotal mounting thereof with respect to the body II with the screws 41 serving as pivot pins. To allow for the movement of the standards 44, the upper surface of the body II is .recessed at the sides thereof, as clearly depicted in Figure 1 of the drawing. It is, of course, clear'that standards 44 pass through slots 34 of the reversible. plate 23 when the plate is disposed on the body, audit is to be noted that regardless of the position of the standards with respect to the body the thumb-screws 46 can be turned down upon the threaded standards to engage the upper surface of the reversible plate 23 with the lower surface of each thumb-screw 46 flatly or evenly bearing upon the plate.v This is true in all positions of .the standards and is effective in firmly holding the safety razors in their attached positions.

Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing illustrates the attachment of the con'ventional safety razor of the convex base type to the device of my present improvement, these views illustrating the customary handle 3! of the safety razor also attached for the convenience of the user. In attaching the razor of this type to the body H, the normal, upper guard of the safety razor is dispensed with and the reversible plate 23 substituted therefor to overlie the standard doubleedged blade 28. The safety razor is so attached to the body that the exposed edge of the blade is aligned with the juncture 22 of the concave portion l3 of the upper surface and the back I!) of the comb structure l5, thus presenting the blade 28 on a bias with respect to the scalp and affording a more effective trim to the hair. To detach the razor from the body II and place it in condition for shaving, it is only necessary to remove thumb-screws 46, to lift off the reversible plate 23, and to remove the convex base 21 and supported blade 28 from the body, and then assem ble the razor in the customary manner with the upper guard overlying the blade. Thus, anyone having a conventional safety razor of the convex base type can readily and conveniently attach the same to the body ll of my improvement with the outer surface of the convex base in engagement with the concave portion l3 of the upper surface of the body.

For converting the device of my present invention for use in conjunction with a flat, slanting base type of conventional safety razor, it is only necessary first to reverse the plate 23 so that the relatively thick bead 36 is faced upwardly and the relatively thin bead 39 faces downwardly, and it is not necessary to remove the normal, upper guard 43 from such type of safety razor. See, in this connection, Figure 7 of the drawing wherein it is to be noted that the fiat, slanting base of the razor is snugly seated upon the fiat, slanting portion l4 of the upper surface of the body, and the bead 39 of the reversible plate 23 is wedged into an-upturned flange of the upper guard 43 of the razor. A clamping plate 5| of the fiat, slanting base of the razor fits into the recess or cut away portion 38 of the head 36 of the plate 23.

' For effecting either a long or a short trim to the hair, it is only necessary to hold the device, with the razor attached thereto, in different angular positions with respect to the scalp.

It is to be understood that the appended claims, defining my present invention, are to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over, the prior art I claim 1. A hair trimming device comprising a body to which conventional safety razors of either the convex base or flat, slanting base type may be attached, said body having a surface consisting of a concave portion and a flat, slanting portion, in juxtaposition, a comb structure extending from said surface, means on said comb structure for lifting and holding the hair in an advantageous position for trimming and for conveying hair that has been cut away from the blade of the razor attached to the body to prevent clogging of the blade, means for shielding the otherwise exposed and unusued edge of a double-edged blade of a convex base type of safety razor, and means for adjustablyattaching to said body either a convex base type or a fiat, slanting base type of conventional safety razor in any selected one of a plurality of operative positions so that the outer convex surface of a convex base type of razor seats snugly upon said concave portion of said surface, or the fiat, slanting surface of a fiat, slanting base type of razor seats snugly upon said fiat, slanting surface of said body.

2. A hair trimming device comprising a body to which conventional safety razors of either the convex base or the flat, slanting base type may be attached, said body comprising a surface having a concave portion and a fiat, slanting portion, in juxtaposition, a comb structure extending from said concave portion; the juncture between said comb structure and said concave portion being on a bias, a reversible plate detachably mounted on said body for enabling conversion of the device for use in conjunction with one or the other of said types of safety razors, a bead on said plate for shielding the otherwise exposed and unused edge of a double-edged blade of a. convex base type of safety razor when attached to said body, and movable means on said body for adjustably attaching either of said types of safety razors to said body in any selected one of a plurality of operative positions.

3. In a device ,for trimming the hair, and to which conventional safety razors may be attached, a body having an upper surface consisting of a concave portion and a flat, slanting portion, in juxtaposition, a comb structure extending from said surface; said comb structure comprising a plurality of spaced teeth each of which is provided with a relatively pointed tip and each of which is formed with substantially vertical sides that are relatively low adjacent said tips and relatively high adjacent the back of the comb structure, and arcuate connecting strips between adjacent teeth, said sides of said teeth together with said arcuate connecting strips serving to lift and to hold the hair in the most advantageous position for the trimming operati0n.and also to convey hair thathas been cut away from the cutting edge of .the blade of the razor attached to the body to prevent clogging of the blade.

. HARRISON LEWIS. 

